Photomation
http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/02/review-gunter-karl-bose-photomaton-2013.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Americansuburb+%28ASX+%7C+AMERICAN+SUBURB+X+%7C+Photography+%26+Culture%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
I found this post intriguing because the pictures here were taken without a photographer. Between 1928 and 1945, machines were set up in public places in Germany that allowed people to take pictures of themselves anonymously, like modern-day photo-booths. In such a case, the intention lies solely with the person being photographed. They decided to get in and how to pose, and the machine took care of the shutter.
Without a human photographer, the person can probably be themselves more naturally, as long as they are comfortable in the photo-booth. The machine handles the mechanics of taking the picture, but the subject has complete control otherwise. They don't have to worry about looking silly in front of people or being judged by the photographer, because machines don't judge, they just take the picture. It could be thought that the participant is both the photographer and the subject, similar to a camera set to a timer and set on a tripod. The article states that this set up lends itself to a narcissistic appeal, which may be true, but I think that narcism has too negative of a connotation. Rather, I think this is more like a visual journal: a private expression of yourself that is for yourself, only in picture form. But be careful that your visual journal does not get posted on an internet blog in the next few decades.
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